MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — No child leaves the Baldwin County after-school program on an empty stomach now.
It gives working parents some relief. "He has to stay until I get off. He doesn't be as hungry," says Tranesha Wright.
The kitchen staff prepares meals at the middle school, then distributes hot meals to 6 other schools.
Nutrition Director Susan Nelson says they serve meals like, "Salisbury steak and potatoes. They love the meatloaf."
The supper program started the first week in November. Since then, they've served 9,000 meals to students.
Nelson says, "By 5 or 6:00, their little tummies are hungry."
She says the extra meal gives kids something to look forward to. "You have fewer behavior problems, you have fewer headaches. Kids that are hungry get headaches a lot -- you don't have that as much. I mean, it's just a world of things that it helps with."
Nelson says the school system is making strides to tear down barriers of food insecurity in the county.
"It's heartbreaking and very alarming in this day and time in a community like this that you have that many kids that go without food," she says.
For hardworking parents, one extra meal goes a long way.
"I work two jobs, and so by the time I've picked him up, he's been there since 8."
The supper program is offered to elementary and middle school students Monday through Thursday.
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